Is
a Dust Mite Allergy Lurking in Your Home?
For
some people, being exposed to a plume of dust will result
in a series of significant respiratory allergy
symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. It would be understandable
to assume, therefore, that the allergy is caused by dust
in the air, but this is not the case. A dust allergy is
actually called a dust mite allergy, or more specifically,
an allergy to millions of microscopic insects that could
be lurking throughout a home or office.
Dust
mites, which can only be seen with a microscope, are a species
related to spiders. Many homes have up to 10 million dust
mites, which is bad news for people with dust mite allergy
symptoms. If you have a dust mite allergy, your immune system
is responding to the residue that dust mites leave behind
such as their feces and dead bodies. Dust mite residue often
becomes combined with dust and floats through the air. If
you breathe in dust mite residue and are sensitive to it,
you will experience the symptoms of a dust mite allergy
in your airways.
The
symptoms of a dust mite allergy are similar to those of
seasonal allergies.
Your dust mite allergy may range from mild to severe, resulting
in some or all of the following symptoms:
- Postnasal
drip
- Sneezing
- Runny
nose
- Nasal
congestion
- Itching
in the mouth, throat, or nose
- Puffy
skin under the eyes
- Cough
- Pressure
and pain in the face
- Nighttime
asthma attacks
- Shortness
of breath
- Wheezing
The
first step in natural
allergy relief from troublesome dust mite allergy symptoms
is reducing the amount of dust mites in your home environment.
Removing dust is obviously beneficial in reducing a dust
mite allergy; dusting with a damp cloth and vacuuming with
a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter are a great
start. There are also special mattress and pillow covers
you can use on your bed to prevent the dust mite from proliferating.
Another way to reduce a dust mite allergy is to keep a low
humidity in your home with air conditioning and a dehumidifier.
Finally, getting rid of items that tend to collect dust,
such as knickknacks and pillows, can help clear up your
dust mite allergy.
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